Since marijuana was legalized by our forward-thinking prime minister, we can now enjoy the foul aroma of cannabis in many neighbourhoods and on many street corners.
The smell, akin to skunk squirt, can ruin a nice walk after a fine dinner of roast beef, potatoes and asparagus. (I guess we have to hold our breath until we get to the next block.)
There’s no argument that medicinal marijuana is necessary for many people battling a variety of ills, but recreational marijuana is not necessary. Sure, it relaxes you and takes away the stress, but it has several short-term and long-term effects.
Cannabis can impair your concentration, memory and decision-making, impacting how you perform on the job or at school. And driving.
Cannabis smoke also contains many of the same harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, so you aren’t doing your lungs a favour thinking marijuana is healthier.
The big concern is the effect that cannabis has on young people. Those who consume frequently and over a long period of time risk mental health problems that may never go away. Depression also comes with the territory.
The number of teens who use cannabis on a regular basis is staggering. What does your son or daughter do when they hang out with their friends. Often you will see a snapchat photo of a group of teens sitting in a circle with a bong in the middle. It’s scary, and parents need to intervene before it’s too late.
It’s naïve to think the new marijuana laws are keeping cannabis out of the hands of our children because they seem to have easy access to it.
Not only are we smelling it more often, we have to wonder how many more people (and youth) are becoming addicted to marijuana, thanks to our forward-thinking government.
Legalizing recreational marijuana was a big mistake, and we are all going to suffer for it.
By Lyonel Doherty
